An Introduction to Environmental

Science

Our Island, Earth

Like all species on Earth,

humans rely on a healthy,

functioning planet for air, water,

food, and shelter.

What Is Environmental Science?• The study of our planet’s

natural systems and how humans and the environment affect one another

• The environment includes all living and nonliving things with which organisms interact.

• Understanding the interactions between humans and the environment is the first step to solving environmental problems.

National Marine Fisheries Service scientists

studying whether commercial boats are

harming endangered killer whales

Environmental Science vs. Environmentalism

• Environmental Science:Objective, unbiased pursuit of knowledge about the workings of the environment and our interactions with it

• Environmentalism: Social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world

Environmentalists protesting the

use of nuclear power

What we will learn…

Natural ResourcesNatural resources are materials and energy sources found in nature that humans need to

survive.

Human Population Growth

• Tremendous and rapid human population growth has occurred recently

•How does this rapid growth affect our resources and the environment?

Did You Know? The human population

increases by about 200,000 people every day.

Agricultural Revolution: humans began living in villages, had longer life spans, and more surviving children.

Industrial Revolution: driven by fossil fuels and technological advances

Ecological Footprints

• The Ecological Footprint measures the amount of land and water required to sustain your consumption patterns and absorb your wastes on an annual basis.

Did You Know? By one calculation, the ecological footprint of the average American is 3.5 times the global average.

Ecological footprints include land and

water used to grow food at farms

hundreds or thousands of miles away.

Tragedy of the Commons

Refers to the ways resources are managed. If not managed sustainably, then resources will be depleted

and not available for everyone to use.

The “commons” shown

here refers to a public

pastureland that was

shared by villagers in

19th-century England.

•Commons: resources that are shared by a community of people.

Ex: fishing in the ocean

Check Point

Which of the following would NOTbe considered a resource?

a) sunlightb) wind energyc) geothermal energyd) technologye) forest productsf) soilsg) waterh) oil, natural gas and metalsi) culturej) pasture land

Nature of ScienceHow we collect and analyze data

The Nature of Science

The word science comes from the Latin word scientia, meaning “knowledge.”

What Science Is and Is Not• Science is an organized way of studying the natural world, and the knowledge gained from such studies.

• Science assumes that the natural world functions in accordance with certain rules.

• Science does not deal with the supernatural.

• Science relies on evidence from measurements and observations.

• Scientific ideas are “supported,” not “proven,” and “accepted,” not“believed in.”

The Process of Science

• Science is not linear—the process loops back on itself and follows many different paths.

• Science is a dynamic, creative endeavor.

• Science involves asking questions, making observations, seeking evidence, sharing ideas, and analyzing results.

Scientific Process(a.k.a the scientific method)

Exploration and Discovery

Observations:

• often start an observation of a phenomenon that the scientist wishes to explain.

• can be made with the eye, with instruments, or by reading scientific literature.

• can happen unexpectedly or be planned.

• often lead to questions and may be shared with colleagues.

Hypotheses

Scientists attempt to answer questions by devising hypotheses—testable ideas

Hypotheses:

• Explain an observation or scientific question

• Generate predictions that can be checked with models or direct observation (A prediction is the expected observation if the hypothesis is true.)

• Can be supported or rejected by data

• May prompt new hypotheses

Gathering Data

Scientists testpredictions by gathering evidence in the form of data.• If data match

predictions then hypothesis is supported.

• If data do not match predictions then hypothesis is rejected.

• Ideally experiments and studies are controlled and repeated.Did You Know? Gulls are protected by the Migratory

Bird Treaty Act, and government agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continually collect data on seagull populations and habitats.

Community of science

The Community of Science

Scientific research does not stop with the scientific method. In order to have any impact, scientists must share their work at conferences and in journals. They receive and incorporate feedback.

Community Analysis and Feedback

• After completing their study, scientists:• Present their work • get feedback from other

researchers at conferences• Write papers about their

study• Submit papers for

publication in a journal

Many journals are peer-reviewed, meaning scientists review papers submitted for publication, recommend

changes, and reject or accept the paper for publication.

Replication and Self-Correction

•Hypotheses should be tested several times, in several ways, before they are accepted.

• Interpretations of data can change over time as knowledge accumulates.

• Science constantly refines and improves itself.Did You Know? Scientists believed the

sun and planets revolved around the Earth until Nicolaus Copernicus proved this was false in the 1500s.

Scientific Theory-Building•A hypothesis is a testable explanation for a narrow set of phenomena

•A theory is a broader explanation for a wider range of observations.

Both hypotheses and theories must be testable, supported by multiple lines of evidence, and replicated

to be accepted by the scientific community.

Addressing environmental problems involves more than just understanding the science.

• Ethics: Study of behavior (good and bad, right and wrong), moral principles, and values

• Culture: Ensemble of knowledge, beliefs, values, and learned ways of life shared by a group of people

• Worldview: Perception of the world and a person’s place in it

Environmental Science is not just Science…

40,000 buffalo hides, 1872

Ducks killed by an oil spill

Ozone Layer Under Repair

Watch the ABC News video Ozone Layer Under Repair to learn about how the damage to the ozone layer was discovered as well as the progress that has been made to restore it. Use this video to launch a discussion on how changing human actions can help restore the environment.

Fixing a Hole in the Sky

•Ozone is a naturally occurring molecule that absorbs and redirects harmful UV radiation.

• In the 1970s, Mario Molina and Sherwood Rowland discovered that CFCs were rapidly destroying ozone in the stratosphere.

• Today, most nations have banned CFCs, and the ozone hole is expected to close up around 2050.

Talk About It Should environmental scientists’

discoveries about the natural world influence

human activity? If so, how?

What is an environmental value system?

Definition: •An environmental value system is a particular worldview that shapes the way an individual, or group of people, perceive and evaluate environmental issues.

The system of evaluating environmental values

•As a system there are inputs and outputs where the outputs are determined byprocessing of inputs

• Flows of information into individuals within societies are processed into changed perceptions and altered decisions about how best to act on environmental matters.

InputsMediaReligionDemographicsEducationPoliticsCulture & social influences

OutputsDecisionsPerspectiveCourse of

action

• Ecocentrism: Well-being of a species or community is more important than that of an individual. All living things have value.

•Anthropocentrism:Humans and human welfare most important.

• Technocentrism: Technology can provide solutions to environmental issues.

Environmental Perspectives

A classification of different environmental philosophies

Environmental continuum

Ecocentrism-We need earth more

than it needs us.

A philosophy that

recognizes that the

ecosphere, rather

than any individual

organism, is the

source and support of

all life. Advises a

holistic approach to

government, industry

and individual. Earth

is here for all species,

resources are limited

and we must work

with the environment.

Anthropocentrism Anything we do, we

can solve it.

A world view that

considers humans to

be the dominant

species and we can

manage the

environment to suit

our needs. We will

control the earth’s

resources and can

solve any pollution

problem that we

cause with the

economy always

growing.

Technocentric-New resources and

technologies will solve

any environmental

problems.

A viewpoint that

technology can keep

pace with and provide

solutions to

environmental

problems.

Environmental

problems are seen to

be solved using

science and

technology, not by

reduction in industry